Clifton - Historic buildings

School of Arts
Address: Corner of Lawrence Hargrave Drive and School Parade, Clifton

The building was erected in 1911. It included a library, a reading room, a billiard room and the general store. It was constructed on land donated by the Clifton Mine for the creation of a learning facility. It is set along the Illawarra escarpment and is around 100 metres above sea level, nestled among breath-taking views.

The building is Federation Free Classical style of brick. It is two storeys high with stucco pilasters, arches and window surrounds - lower level roughcast. It has an entrance porch with carved arch stucco over brick. Features of the building are the interesting parapet and arch.

Over the years the premises had many incarnations. It was a post office, an electoral office, a caretaker's residence and, in later years, a shop. Dances were often held for the miners of Scarborough and Clifton. The building is now held in trust by the Clifton residents. Restoration work began in 1996. (Illawarra Mercury, 19/3/97; Ali, c1981; City of Wollongong Heritage Study, 1991)

Cottage
Address: Clifton School Parade, Clifton

The cottage is a single storey brick residence, with a corrugated steel roof, a pressed metal gable with fretted veranda brackets. Large pine trees exist to the east and south. It is Federation style with elements of "Queen Anne" and Arts and Crafts style. (City of Wollongong Heritage Study, 1991)

Former School Residence
Address: Clifton School Parade, Clifton

The Residence is a single storey building, painted brick with corrugated steel, timber veranda and window hoods. It is built in Federation filigree style. The building is still in good condition. (City of Wollongong Heritage Study, 1991)

Imperial Hotel
Address: Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Clifton
The Imperial was licensed by thirty year old Wollongong baker, Alexander Osborne in April 1884. From the day it opened its doors the bar was a sanctuary for coalminers. The Imperial was Clifton's second public house, joining the Clifton Inn which had been the village's original watering hole since 1879.

The Imperial Hotel was purchased at auction in 1910 by Reschs Brewery Limited. It was then demolished and replaced by a large two-storey brick structure. The architect of the new hotel was Mr Redgen of Sydney and work on the building began in 1911. A savage storm ripped the roof off the hotel in 1913 causing an estimated two thousand pounds worth of damage.

The Hotel remained essentially unchanged until the 1970's, when the front timber balcony was replaced with an awning, the bar extended, and a concrete balcony was constructed overlooking the ocean.(Illawarra Mercury 26/12/2001, 11/2/2000; City of Wollongong Heritage Study 1991; Roberts, 1991)